‘What’s So Cool About Manufacturing’ kicks off in Berks, Schuylkill

The Manufacturers Resource Center is getting ready for the 10th year of “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” in Berks and Schuylkill counties. 

The program promotes CTE and STEM Education in middle school communities to expose young people to various manufacturing career paths. 

The “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” student video contest provides 7th and 8th graders a unique opportunity to connect directly with local manufacturers as they use their curiosity and creativity to develop, shoot, edit and produce a “cool” video to document their experiences.   

The contest is spearheaded by Manufacturers Resource Center.  

“MRC is proud to bring What’s So Cool About Manufacturing to the Berks and Schuylkill area for its 10th year” states Rich Hobbs, MRC president & CEO. “The program’s continued success and impact can be attributed to the efforts the teachers and students have put forth, along with the many partners and community sponsors committed to building a future workforce which will in turn support economic growth and expansion in the region.”  

For the program, which originated in the Lehigh Valley, student teams partner with manufacturers in 12 regions across Pennsylvania. 

 Videos created by the students will compete first in regional contests and then in the annual Statewide Awards in Harrisburg.  The statewide program is spearheaded by Manufacturers Resource Center. 

For this competition, student teams from 33 Berks and Schuylkill County middle schools are partnering with 33 area manufacturers to produce their video submissions.  

Among the matchups are Boyertown Middle School East, which will work with East Penn Manufacturing in Lyon Station and Reading Central Middle School, which will work with Reading Truck. 

 All videos will be posted on the “What’s So Cool” website WhatsSoCool.org, and will be open to the public for voting March 25, 2026 for the Viewers Choice Award.  

The Berks Schuylkill Awards Event is scheduled for April 14, 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Reading. 

“We are thrilled to kick off the 10th annual WSCM program in Berks and Schuylkill,” said Karen Buck, director of workforce Initiatives for MRC.  “The potential for careers in manufacturing are demonstrated first-hand by the manufacturers and the students get excited about the possibility of working in a cool, modern environment that they may never have imagined.”